Emma Raducanu praised Wimbledon for doing an “amazing job” after it was revealed that a man who has been stalking her has been banned from buying tickets for this year’s championships.
The man, who had followed Raducanu to multiple events, was given a restraining order by police in Dubai after his presence at the Dubai Tennis Championships caused her to break down in tears on the court.
Wimbledon said its security system had red-flagged the man’s attempt to buy tickets for the All England Club and that his application had been rejected.
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Raducanu reflected on the stalking ordeal she suffered at the Dubai Tennis Championships
Raducanu told BBC Sport: “Wimbledon did an amazing job. I got a notification and the police contacted me and assured me that everything was okay.
“I feel okay, I feel comfortable and safe. I’ve had great protection whenever I’ve been at these events recently. I feel a difference and that makes me feel more comfortable.”
Raducanu was speaking ahead of her appearance at the Eastbourne Open and also paid tribute to compatriot Katie Boulter, who this week revealed the extent of the online abuse she regularly receives.
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Radacanu says dealing with her recurring back spasm can be frustrating and admits it’s an issue that comes and goes
“I’m glad Katie spoke out about it and I’m glad she took a stand, because it’s something we all have to deal with – some to different levels, but all are pretty extreme,” Raducanu added.
Boulter opened up about the level of abuse aimed at some tennis players and revealed she and her family have received death threats.
Katie Boulter shared her experiences to highlight the issue of players receiving toxic messages online
The British No 2 believes much of the abuse comes from gamblers who have lost money and while she has learned how to better handle it over the years, incidents can raise genuine concerns for her safety.
“I think it just kind of shows how vulnerable we are. You really don’t know if this person is on site. You really don’t know if they’re nearby or if they know where you live or anything like that,” she added.
“At the very start of my career, it’s probably something I took very personally […] getting comments about the way you look. It becomes more apparent every single time you go on your phone.”
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